Putin to Meet Turkey, Veneluzela Leaders in Istanbul

Sofia News Agency (Novinite.com)

2 месяцев

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to have talks with his counterparts from Turkey and Venezuela, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nicolás Maduro, while attending the World Energy Congress in Istanbul, TASS agency has said.

Putin and Erdoğan will look into ways to pick up on bilateral relations which were strained for more than seven months after the downing of a Russian warplane in November.

Monday's visit is the first for Putin since a thaw began between Moscow and Ankara in the summer. Turkey's head of state subsequently met the Russian President in Russia.

Regional and international affairs, but also trade and enetgy issues, are expected to be discussed.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Hürriyet over the weekend it was not unlikely for the agreement to build Turkish Stream pipeline to be signed during Putin's visit.

Maduro himself has earlier said that the meeting with his Russian counterpart is expected to bring about more concrete dimensions to all spheres of bilateral relations - "economic, agricultural, trade".